NABIS in the News

Shooting Leaves Man Paralysed

25th September 2018

A man who shot another man at point blank range, causing a spinal injury that has left him paralysed from the chest down, has been sentenced following a conviction of attempted murder.

Yusuf Omer Yusuf 23 (28.12.1994) of no fixed abode, was sentenced to ten years for committing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent.

He also received a nine year sentence for possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, namely murder. The sentences will run concurrently.

Yusuf was previously found guilty on 26 July after a trial at the Old Bailey

Officers from the Met's Trident and Area Crime Command began an investigation after a 27-year-old man was shot in the throat at an address in Bruce Grove, Tottenham in the early hours of Thursday, 1 February.

The court heard Yusuf walked into the flat and shot the victim at point blank range using a semi-automatic handgun. The gun-shot wound fractured an upper vertebra in the victim's neck causing spinal cord damage. As a result, the victim remains paralysed from the chest down.

The prosecution's case was that Yusuf targeted the victim because of a minor dispute between the two men earlier in the day outside a shop in Bruce Grove.

Trident officers established that Yusuf, known as 'Shaver', had felt disrespected after the victim said words to the effect of "who are you, I don't know you, who are you to involve yourself."

The victim gave Yusuf's name to police and a warrant was issued for his arrest. His image was circulated at ports and airports.

Six days after the shooting, Yusuf was arrested on a plane at Heathrow airport shortly before it was due to take off to Somalia.

After being taken into custody, Yusuf was picked out by the victim in an ID parade.

Trident officers also used telephone analysis to link Yusuf to the scene of the shooting at the time it happened.

During a police interview, Yusuf replied 'no comment' to all questions about the shooting.

Detective Constable Sanjeev Sharma, of the Met's Trident and Area Crime Command, said: "After a minor dispute, Yusuf armed himself with a gun and attempted to murder a man for the trivial fact he felt 'disrespected'.

"The victim of this shooting was incredibly lucky to survive but has been left with a life-changing injury.

"Deadly weapons such as semi-automatic handguns have no place on the streets of London. The Trident team is working relentlessly to bring to justice those responsible for acts of violence such as this."